Hot Weather Tips for Pet Owners

The heat is on and it is important for all pet owners to be aware of how extreme weather conditions can affect their pets. Listed are some helpful reminders for pet owners to help their animals beat the summer heat:

Overheating can kill an animal. NEVER leave your pet alone in a vehicle, even with the windows cracked open slightly; it only takes a few minutes for the temperature inside to reach 160+ degrees. With only hot air to breathe, your pet can quickly suffer from brain damage or die from heat-stroke. Parking in shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts throughout the day. When traveling, carry a gallon of fresh, cool water for your pet.

In hot weather, do not force your pet to exercise after a meal. Always exercise your pet in the cool of the morning or evening.

In extremely hot weather, do not leave your pet standing on hot pavement and keep walks to a minimum. Your pet is much closer to the ground and its body can heat up quickly.

Always provide plenty of shade for your pets that stay outside of the house. A properly constructed dog house serves best. Bring your pet inside during the heat of the day and let them rest in a cool part of the house. Be sensitive to the needs of older or overweight animals in hot weather too.

Snub-nosed dogs (especially Bulldogs, Pekingese, Boston Terriers, Lhasa Apsos, and Shih Tzus) should be kept indoors in air-conditioning as much as possible.

A clean coat can help pre-vent summer skin problems, so keep your pet well groomed. If your pet sports a heavy coat, shaving their hair to a 1-inch length will help prevent overheating. Do not shave your pet's hair down to the skin; this robs the animal of its protection from the sun's harmful UVA/UVB rays.

For more helpful information on how to help your pet beat the heat, call the Public Education office at (714)935-6301. By taking these simple, preventative measures, your pet will stay cool and comfortable through the hottest months of the summer!

Board of Supervisors Recognizes OCAC Employees

At the May 23rd Board of Supervisors meeting , seven OC Animal Care (OCAC) employees were recognized for their contributions to the programs and services provided by OCAC. With the help of her dog Montreaux (aka Bubba), Director of OCAC Jennifer Phillips made a presentation that highlighted employees from each of OCAC' departments. Her presentation specifically demonstrated the various ways in which animals come into contact with OCAC and the passion that our 140+ staff embody each and every day they perform their duties.

The following staff were recognized at the Board of Supervisors meeting for their exceptional work: Sergeant Rachel Miller from Special Services, Office Specialist Ankita Roy, Sergeant Kyri Inman from Field Services, Registered Veterinary Technicians Gabriel Ramirez and Jennifer Rowe, Kennel Attendant Audrey Reyes, and Adoption Partner Coordinator Tammy Osborn. Employees were congratulated for their strong work ethic, excellent customer ser-vice skills, and their passion for serving the animals that they come into contact with.

The meeting was a time for all of OCAC to truly celebrate their contributions and commitment to the animals and residents of Orange County. It is the passion and care that is exhibited by all OCAC employees that contributes to second chances and saving lives!

Planning on Traveling This Summer?

Summer time = FUN time. Pool parties, bonfires, barbecuing, and of course getting out of town! With the summer months already here, most families are preparing themselves for summer vacation.

What about their pets? It is important that pet owners understand the safety concerns involved in traveling with their furry companions. Included in this article are some helpful tips for happy trails and happy tails.

ID your pet by making sure your pet has a tag imprinted with your home (and/or cell) phone numbers and address. Microchipping your pet is a great form of permanent identification. Dogs should always have an updated license tag attached to their collar.

Keep heads inside the car for safety's sake. If a pet hangs its head outside a moving vehicle, it can lead to injuries from flying objects, inner ear damage, and lung infections.

Harness rather than leash your dog inside the car and remember that animals should never ride on your lap while driving. Traveling by truck? Crate animals that will be traveling in the bed of a truck- it is the smartest and safest method of traveling! Feed lightly two to three hours before travel. Do not feed your pet in a moving vehicle.

Do not forget the extras such as treats and biscuits as well as a favorite toy or pillow to comfort your pet with a sense of familiarity.

Planning to fly rather than drive? Check with your veterinarian for important information and contact your airline of choice for special regulations. Remembering these helpful tips will make summer traveling an easy and comfortable ride for you and your pets.

A Quick Reminder from OCAC...

For those short one night events such as the 4th of July, remember to do the following:

Make sure your pet is wearing updated ID information.

Secure fences and lock gates.

Keep small pets indoors.

Have a recent photo of your pet on hand.

If you plan to be out of town for the weekend of the 4th, and your pet will not be joining you for the trip, please make sure you leave a signed letter which indicates the designated caretaker for your pet. The pet sitter should also have a copy of the legal owner's ID and the animal's most recent vet re-cord. These identification items are extremely important and come in handy should the animal be-come lost and be taken in by OCAC.

"Hooray for Hollywood" Pet Fair is a Smashing Hit!

OC Animal Care (OCAC) hosted yet another successful Pet Fair adoption event on May 20th. The shelter's "Hooray for Hollywood" theme showcased the stars of the day- all of the kittens, puppies, bunnies, cats, dogs, and other critters available for adoption! This free event hosted over 25 vendor groups that promoted special animal services, breed rescue information, and the latest in pet care products.

Highlights of the day included demonstrations by the following groups: "Pet Amigos" by Santa Ana Animal Services, Jump Start's Dancing Dogs, Southern California Malinois Ring Sport Club, and Work Dogs International. All demonstrations showcased a variety of information on animals and were enjoyed by the public. Adoption numbers for the day were a great success. OCAC was able to find homes for over 60 animals resulting in a nearly 20% increase from last year's Pet Fair adoption totals!

OCAC volunteers helped by contributing their time to answering questions from the public, handing out information on the day's activities, and supplying goody bags for new pet owners. The Explorer Post 538 volunteers raised money for their program by selling refreshments, snacks, and barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs. Overall, a great time was had by all who attended!

A special thank you goes out to all OCAC employees for their hard work and support. Everyone played a special part in making this event a spectacular success!

"Reading With Fido" – Summer Reading Program

Community outreach is a vital tool used by OC Animal Care (OCAC) in order to raise public awareness on responsible pet ownership, as well as encourage the adoption of available animals. In addition to educating the public, OCAC strives to create unique programs that benefit both the public and our animals.

This summer, the "Reading With Fido" summer reading program will be visiting local Orange County libraries to encourage children to read, while giving them the opportunity to safely interact with animals and learn about responsible pet ownership. OCAC will conduct a story hour on a monthly basis in which kids can come and visit "Fido" and take turns reading to him. At each location, children will receive a responsible pet owner coloring book and "Reading With Fido" bookmarks to take home with them.

The following is a schedule of "Fido" visits for participating libraries. Appearances at local libraries are subject to change. For more information, please call the Public Education office at (714)935-6301.

Mobile Adoption & Shelter Events for June–August

OC Animal Care is always looking for ways to promote adoptable animals and bring them into the public eye. One way that we do this is through our participation in local community events. Each week we prepare animals at our shelter to go out into the public and potentially find a new home. Mobile adoptions are a great way to promote animals, provide information to the public, and inform our local communities of the services we provide. Here is a list of the upcoming mobile events that OCAC will be participating in:

Low Cost Vaccine Clinic occurs at the Animal Care Center the 1st Tuesday of each month (except when it lands on a holiday) from 7:00-8:30 p.m. (June 6th, July 11, and August 2).

Saturday, August 11th & Sunday, August 12th: City of Stanton's Summerfest community event.

OCAC is always looking for new events to participate in. If you have an upcoming community event that you would like us to be a part of, please send your information to Rachel Gorman, Public Education Officer, 561 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868, or call her at (714) 935-6301.

Celebrating Success

Orange County OC Animal Care takes great pride in promoting the successes we have in adopting our animals to lifelong homes. We often receive updates from visitors that tell us heart warming stories of how they were either re-united with their lost pet, or had found the perfect companion to take home. Here is a story regarding a dog named Cassius, who had found a special place in everyone's heart here at the Care Center.

A first look at Cassius and one might think he is a big toughie, but after spending a minute to get to know him, you would find that he has a heart of gold. This gentle giant came into OCAC as a stray back in February 2006. After about a month of being at the shelter, he had been adopted, but unfortunately was returned 3 days later because he had soiled in the house.

It often takes time and patience for newly adopted animals to adjust to their new environment. Fortunately, housebreaking an untrained animal is easy to correct. After being returned, Cassius began to work his magic on all the staff and volunteers that had come to know him. Because of his easy-going demeanor coupled with the fact that he got along with other animals, Cassius was taken to KDOC's The Pet Place, America's Family Pet Expo, and PetsMart mobile adoptions. He received plenty of attention from the public at each event, but had not captured the heart of a new owner.

Finally, on April 30th, Cassius had found his match! Jack Briggs was visiting OCAC in search of a companion for his Beagle. He had approached OCAC volunteers Renee and Melanie to ask questions about adopting, and they introduced Jack to Cassius. After learning more about Cassius and all that he had to give, Jack decided that he had to make Cassius a part of his family.

Jack sent us a quick update the other day about Cassius and this is what he said, "Would you please inform the volunteers that Cassius has a good home and will not be returning to the shelter. He appears to be quite happy with his new surroundings and has made friends with every-one. Please thank the ladies for their help in acquainting me with this big guy." —Jack

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